The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
GEMS FOR SOCIETY BELLIES.
THE DIAMOND MERCHANTS RETURN TO
WASHING TON.

THE DLAMOND MERCBANTS RETURN TO
WASHING TON.
Omcial and seciety Ladies' Dazxied with
his Display Of Gems Last season-82OO,-
900 Worth hold-Mrs. whitney's SEQ, 900
NeckIace-A $40. 900 Diamond Lost.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19-One Of the sensa-
tions In Washington society during the last
season was the appearance Of q noted denler
In precious stones, who created Juror among
the ladies' of tho Cabinet and high officials, and
in social circles. He approached society with
his gems from q new direction-a social one.
Ahandsome and courteous gentleman himself.
with beautiful wife. both accustomed to good
social usages. the diamond merchant was able
to reach the inner circles Of society. He had
quarters at the Arlington. and within few
weeks after his arrival he had Washington
ladies in q fever Of excitement over the splen-
did gems with which he dazzled their eyes, and
all tho husbands in Washington going down
into their pocketbooks, and Wishing the Cincin-
natl merchant was In Jericho. When the season
closed nearly 100000 had passed into the
pockets Of the dealer in precious stones, and
rich and rare were the gems that flashed upon
many a white neck and arm In the great So
ciety brushes OF the lattor part Of the season.
whose owner had trusted before that to the
power Of their own beauty unadorned.
One Of the first Of the many stories set afoat
about tho craze for gems was Of the purchase
by the Whitneys Of q 100000 necklace. In the
necklace were forty stones, graded from the
great centre stone each way to stones OF the
weight Of q thistle down. All the diamond
markets In the world had been searched to &C.
oomplish the graduation. Soon afterward
there was a story about some unpleasantness
in tho household OF a Western politician Of ma
nj 70 nf uyff a
ing letter to her husband containing bill
for diamonds which she had never received.
and there wore good many explanations and
friends called In and peace patched up by
the purchase Of moro diamonds. which did 60
to the wife and not to some other person.
1t was told Of the wife Of a far Western Sem
ator. that while sitting In the parlor Of hotel,
after having sent up her card to the wife OF an
other Senator living at the hotel. her attention
was attracted to little group Of ladies
gathered about the diamond merchant, who
had spread his wares on the piano for their
"ohs." and little screams Of ecstatic admIra-
ton. and then crossed the room and Joined tho
GROUP. She handled the gems with a.. an appear,
connoisseur. The other ladies, wives Of Con-
Rressmen and Government officials, stood back
q pss
and diamonds. and said;
What do you value that atf
Seventeen hundred dollars" was the reply.
The lady opened her reticule. took out o
check book made out check for the amount.
sumed hor chair. She paralysed that group Of
ladies', and at the same time, added another
jewel toa collection which Is already one of the
The diamond merchant has returned to
town: and Is prepared for another eamga a,;I;
House that. made his hair curl. He is noted
for dealing In gems Of extraordinary size and
value and Is N With the sale Of SUCH
hotel to show him ' an exsraerd G q opa
iaa set In az IL @ the stones
on the table, and they made q brilliant and
e on aaa s Il a
Iri!liants. and a handful Of diamonds Of
Carefully produced the star q the collection, a
I'd sc9s WcS Is O he hs
valued at 10000; He put the great stone i
his tweezers and passed it over to his friend,
hold the stone In his own hand when enclosed
in the tweezers: Just rs the stone was chang
s ng fnd tho m Esra Was wa"
snap, streak Of light click on the marble
moor. and the diamond was gone: The party
and the stone shot toward the other end OF the
general Office near the Washroom and the news.
the room sprang for the 100000 diamond and
search for it. The doors were .hurriedly closed
and MIR. Burch. the head clerk summoned
about enf and
ing. The stone seemed to shoot into the COR
the general office, and search was made there:
the stone Is In sight you canpot miss 1t,
we'll try yI to hide coal Of fire.S u 'A' %
there were two holes through the floor; where
diamond merchant saw them he put his hands itis
over his white face from which the perspira-
''Sq TH dg SdGprRREE a sR nave %q sonsi
Mean. Meanwhile negro had been brought IN and
f9 Eve h hs had been
the room into tho general office. The rumor
and
about the, guarded doors Of the reading room:
Just at this point DR.. s. +. Coues Of the United
States Navy came out q the wash room; and,
stspped IN and SAID Is the negro WEE the
What's the matter? Something lostp"
What is It ?" asked the Doctor.
Deed don't know. sab. There Is the man
.W5at have you iost p asked Dr.. coues.
a ulumOnu, WAS inc HnSW6r.
We'll, guess found it." said the Doctor
and he pulled the 500 900 gem, from his vest
pocket and placed it in the hand of the dia-
mond merchant.
The merchants trained eye recognized 1t at
once. and he threw his arm around the Doc
tors neck. and there was sigh OF relief all
around. The Doctor had picked It up In the
door OF the wash room, where 1t had been shot
by a carrom onlthe wall inside the reading room,
and put 1t In his vest pocket with the intention
of handing 1t In at the office.
- had no idea about the thing" he said az
terward II thought 1t was some brilliant or
Oregon diamond, and then concluded that It
came Oft from one OF those glass pendants on
the chandeliers. In fact, I came near not pick
ing 1t up ut all. and would not have done so
except for its exceptional brilliancy Even in
1t is probable that Dr. Coues by this time Is
not without a souvenir of the occasion, and
TINT hereafter the diamond merchant will hold
his tweezers with an iron grip.